Sunrise

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is calling Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Special Session a taxpayer-funded political stunt.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— VISIT FLORIDA funding requests sails through their first committee stop.

— And NBA legend Magic Johnson made a return visit to Florida’s Capitol to tackle the topic of mental health.

The Miami-Dade Public School District is relaxing mask mandates as the state heats up the threats.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Amid Republican infighting, a Democrat comes to the defense of House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

— And calls continue to mount against the University of Florida administration’s stance over a voting rights case, including a boycott over what’s being described as “benign racism.”

— Today’s Sunrise Interview is with Chuck Hobbs, the publisher of the Hobbservation Point Newsletter.  He issued an open letter to his alma mater, the University of Florida, calling on the administration to reverse what he calls its tone-deaf stance barring its professors from testifying in a voting rights case — which challenges SB 90.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says the Special Session beginning Nov. 15, will among other things, fortify the parent's bill of rights.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— Union groups are concerned that calls to pull out of OSHA during Special Session risk the health and safety of millions.

— And one journalist digs and finds more than one-third of congressional candidates across Florida have failed to file mandatory financial disclosure reports.

— Today’s Sunrise Interview is with Theresa King, President of Florida Building and Construction Trade Council, and Rich Templin, director of politics and public policy with the Florida AFL-CIO — they are both concerned about calls from Republican legislative leaders for the state to drop out of the nation’s workplace safety agency.

— We will also hear from Fresh Take Florida reporter Corbin Bolies, whose reporting uncovered dozens of Florida’s congressional candidates failing to turn in mandatory financial reports.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is doubling down on his Surgeon General — for refusing to wear a mask when asked.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody sue the Joe Biden administration over vaccine mandates.

— Sen. Marco Rubio is slamming Biden’s announced deal on his sweeping domestic policy package. Rubio claims the true cost of the plan will be trillions of dollars.

Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist says Florida’s New Surgeon General needs to go.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— What about Joe Ladapo’s sterling credentials? Other doctors weigh in.

— Senate President Wilton Simpson outlines what is to come at the Florida Chamber’s Future of Florida Forum.

— After 70 years, the families of the Black men known as the Groveland Four could see their wrongful rape convictions dropped.

— Today’s Sunrise Interview is with Gilbert King, author of “Devil in the Grove,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Groveland Four story. He talks about racial injustice in America — and Groveland.

A prominent pastor in Tallahassee is rebuking the actions of Gov. Ron DeSantis, so much so that he announced plans to leave the Republican Party. However, one Republican says he’s a little skeptical about the Reverend’s sermon.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says she is going to keep asking the Senate to not confirm Florida’s Surgeon General.

— Today’s Sunrise Interview is with Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, who stands behind Surgeon General Joe Ladapo and his right to refuse to wear a mask. Andrade says he is tired of Republicans being accused of being heartless because they oppose government intervention of mandates.

The Senator with stage one breast cancer who refused to meet with Florida’s top doctor for not wearing a mask, says she’s also concerned for First Lady Casey DeSantis.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. Ron DeSantis is busy bashing Dr. Anthony Fauci over allegations his institute had funded research involving the abuse of puppies.

— Today’s Sunrise Interview is with Tina Polsky, the Democratic Senator at the center of the controversy with Florida’s Surgeon General who refused to honor her request to wear a mask in order to meet with her in her office. She explains how it all went down.

Gov. Ron DeSantis makes a pitch for anti-vax law enforcement and first responders to move to the Sunshine State.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Leaders at the Florida Department of Corrections are calling on lawmakers to increase funding to help the system they say is in crisis.

— And Florida’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in September.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a blindside to the Legislature in his ongoing war against mask mandates.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Caught off guard, Democrats say the Governor’s priorities aren’t in the interest of Floridians.

— And while DeSantis fights against federal vaccine mandates, local school districts say they are tired of being bullied by the state.

— Today’s Sunrise Interview with Bay News 9 Tallahassee Bureau reporter Troy Kinsey, the former president of the Florida Capitol Press Corps, has gone public with the news that he is about to retire from news and roam the friendly skies as a commercial airline pilot. We’ll talk about his many years covering the Florida Capitol, and if he will miss the madness like the upcoming Special Session.

The battle over mask mandates in schools intensifies as Gov. Ron DeSantis gives parents against wearing masks a chance to vent.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

—  Republican Rep. Randy Fine says school boards will pay!

— Leaders at the Florida Department of Veteran’s Affairs tell lawmakers how they plan to address veteran suicide rates.

— Who would you tell if you win big playing the Florida Lottery? One lawmaker wants to make sure the jackpot winners can stay a secret for a little while.

— Today’s Sunrise Interview dives deep into the issue of veteran suicides with Florida Politics reporter Jason Delgado, who breaks down what lawmakers are hoping to have done federally, and here in the state, to curb the problem.